zanoni-第16章

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Clarence　Glyndon。　　His　ambition　of　art　was　associated　with　the

applause　and　estimation　of　that　miserable　minority　of　the　surface

that　we　call　the　Public。



Like　those　who　deceive；　he　was　ever　fearful　of　being　himself　the

dupe。　　He　distrusted　the　sweet　innocence　of　Viola。　　He　could　not

venture　the　hazard　of　seriously　proposing　marriage　to　an　Italian

actress；　but　the　modest　dignity　of　the　girl；　and　something　good

and　generous　in　his　own　nature；　had　hitherto　made　him　shrink　from

any　more　worldly　but　less　honourable　designs。　　Thus　the

familiarity　between　them　seemed　rather　that　of　kindness　and

regard　than　passion。　　He　attended　the　theatre；　he　stole　behind

the　scenes　to　converse　with　her；　he　filled　his　portfolio　with

countless　sketches　of　a　beauty　that　charmed　him　as　an　artist　as

well　as　lover；　and　day　after　day　he　floated　on　through　a　changing

sea　of　doubt　and　irresolution；　of　affection　and　distrust。　　The

last；　indeed；　constantly　sustained　against　his　better　reason　by

the　sober　admonitions　of　Mervale；　a　matter…of…fact　man！



The　day　following　that　eve　on　which　this　section　of　my　story

opens；　Glyndon　was　riding　alone　by　the　shores　of　the　Neapolitan

sea；　on　the　other　side　of　the　Cavern　of　Posilipo。　　It　was　past

noon；　the　sun　had　lost　its　early　fervour；　and　a　cool　breeze

sprung　up　voluptuously　from　the　sparkling　sea。　　Bending　over　a

fragment　of　stone　near　the　roadside；　he　perceived　the　form　of　a

man；　and　when　he　approached；　he　recognised　Zanoni。



The　Englishman　saluted　him　courteously。　　〃Have　you　discovered

some　antique？〃　said　he；　with　a　smile；　〃they　are　common　as　pebbles

on　this　road。〃



〃No；〃　replied　Zanoni；　〃it　was　but　one　of　those　antiques　that　have

their　date；　indeed；　from　the　beginning　of　the　world；　but　which

Nature　eternally　withers　and　renews。〃　　So　saying；　he　showed

Glyndon　a　small　herb　with　a　pale…blue　flower；　and　then　placed　it

carefully　in　his　bosom。



〃You　are　an　herbalist？〃



〃I　am。〃



〃It　is；　I　am　told；　a　study　full　of　interest。〃



〃To　those　who　understand　it；　doubtless。〃



〃Is　the　knowledge；　then；　so　rare？〃



〃Rare！　　The　deeper　knowledge　is　perhaps　rather；　among　the　arts；

LOST　to　the　modern　philosophy　of　commonplace　and　surface！　　Do　you

imagine　there　was　no　foundation　for　those　traditions　which　come

dimly　down　from　remoter　ages；as　shells　now　found　on　the

mountain…tops　inform　us　where　the　seas　have　been？　　What　was　the

old　Colchian　magic；　but　the　minute　study　of　Nature　in　her

lowliest　works？　　What　the　fable　of　Medea；　but　a　proof　of　the

powers　that　may　be　extracted　from　the　germ　and　leaf？　　The　most

gifted　of　all　the　Priestcrafts；　the　mysterious　sisterhoods　of

Cuth；　concerning　whose　incantations　Learning　vainly　bewilders

itself　amidst　the　maze　of　legends；　sought　in　the　meanest　herbs

what；　perhaps；　the　Babylonian　Sages　explored　in　vain　amidst　the

loftiest　stars。　　Tradition　yet　tells　you　that　there　existed　a

race　（〃Plut。　　Symp。〃　l。　5。　c。　7。）　who　could　slay　their　enemies

from　afar；　without　weapon；　without　movement。　　The　herb　that　ye

tread　on　may　have　deadlier　powers　than　your　engineers　can　give　to

their　mightiest　instruments　of　war。　　Can　you　guess　that　to　these

Italian　shores；　to　the　old　Circaean　Promontory；　came　the　Wise

from　the　farthest　East；　to　search　for　plants　and　simples　which

your　Pharmacists　of　the　Counter　would　fling　from　them　as　weeds？

The　first　herbaliststhe　master　chemists　of　the　worldwere　the

tribe　that　the　ancient　reverence　called　by　the　name　of　Titans。

（Syncellus；　page　14。〃Chemistry　the　Invention　of　the　Giants。〃）

I　remember　once；　by　the　Hebrus；　in　the　reign　of　　　But　this

talk；〃　said　Zanoni；　checking　himself　abruptly；　and　with　a　cold

smile；　〃serves　only　to　waste　your　time　and　my　own。〃　　He　paused；

looked　steadily　at　Glyndon；　and　continued；　〃Young　man；　think　you

that　vague　curiosity　will　supply　the　place　of　earnest　labour？　　I

read　your　heart。　　You　wish　to　know　me；　and　not　this　humble　herb：

but　pass　on；　your　desire　cannot　be　satisfied。〃



〃You　have　not　the　politeness　of　your　countrymen；〃　said　Glyndon；

somewhat　discomposed。　　〃Suppose　I　were　desirous　to　cultivate　your

acquaintance；　why　should　you　reject　my　advances？〃



〃I　reject　no　man's　advances；〃　answered　Zanoni；　〃I　must　know　them

if　they　so　desire；　but　ME；　in　return；　they　can　never　comprehend。

If　you　ask　my　acquaintance；　it　is　yours；　but　I　would　warn　you　to

shun　me。〃



〃And　why　are　you；　then；　so　dangerous？〃



〃On　this　earth；　men　are　often；　without　their　own　agency；　fated　to

be　dangerous　to　others。　　If　I　were　to　predict　your　fortune　by　the

vain　calculations　of　the　astrologer；　I　should　tell　you；　in　their

despicable　jargon；　that　my　planet　sat　darkly　in　your　house　of

life。　　Cross　me　not；　if　you　can　avoid　it。　　I　warn　you　now　for　the

first　time　and　last。〃



〃You　despise　the　astrologers；　yet　you　utter　a　jargon　as

mysterious　as　theirs。　　I　neither　gamble　nor　quarrel；　why；　then；

should　I　fear　you？〃



〃As　you　will；　I　have　done。〃



〃Let　me　speak　frankly；your　conversation　last　night　interested

and　perplexed　me。〃



〃I　know　it：　　minds　like　yours　are　attracted　by　mystery。〃



Glyndon　was　piqued　at　these　words；　though　in　the　tone　in　which

they　were　spoken　there　was　no　contempt。



〃I　see　you　do　not　consider　me　worthy　of　your　friendship。　　Be　it

so。　　Good…day！〃



Zanoni　coldly　replied　to　the　salutation；　and　as　the　Englishman

rode　on；　returned　to　his　botanical　employment。



The　same　night；　Glyndon　went；　as　usual；　to　the　theatre。　　He　was

standing　behind　the　scenes　watching　Viola；　who　was　on　the　stage

in　one　of　her　most　brilliant　parts。　　The　house　resounded　with

applause。　　Glyndon　was　transported　with　a　young　man's　passion　and

a　young　man's　pride：　　〃This　glorious　creature；〃　thought　he；　〃may

yet　be　mine。〃



He　felt；　while　thus　wrapped　in　delicious　reverie；　a　slight　touch

upon　his　shoulder；　he　turned；　and　beheld　Zanoni。　　〃You　are　in

danger；〃　said　the　latter。　　〃Do　not　walk　home　to…night；　or　if　you

do；　go　not　alone。〃



Before　Glyndon　recovered　from　his　surprise；　Zanoni　disappeared；

and　when　the　Englishman　saw　him　again；　he　was　in　the　box　of　one

of　the　Neapolitan　nobles；　where　Glyndon　could　not　follow　him。



Viola　now　left　the　stage；　and　Glyndon　accosted　her　with　an

unaccustomed　warmth　of　gallantry。　　But　Viola；　contrary　to　her

gentle　habit；　turned　with　an　evident　impatience　from　the　address

of　her　lover。　　Taking　aside　Gionetta；　who　was　her　constant

attendant　at　the　theatre；　she　said；　in　an　earnest　whisper；



〃Oh；　Gionetta！　　He　is　here　again！the　stranger　of　whom　I　spoke

to　thee！and　again；　he　alone；　of　the　whole　theatre；　withholds

from　me　his　applause。〃



〃Which　is　he；　my　darling？〃　said　the　old　woman；　with　fondness　in

her　voice。　　〃He　must　indeed　be　dullnot　worth　a　thought。〃



The　actress　drew　Gionetta　nearer　to　the　stage；　and　pointed　out　to

her　a　man　in　one　of　the　boxes；　conspicuous　amongst　all　else　by

the　simplicity　of　his　dress；　and　the　extraordinary　beauty　of　his

features。



〃Not　worth　a　thought；　Gionetta！〃　repeated　Viola；〃Not　worth　a

thought！　　Alas；　not　to　think　of　him；　seems　the　absence　of　thought

itself！〃



The　prompter　summoned　the　Signora　Pisani。　　〃Find　out　his　name；

Gionetta；〃　said　she；　moving　slowly　to　the　stage；　and　passing　by

Glyndon；　who　gazed　at　her　with　a　look　of　sorrowful　reproach。



The　scene　on　which　the　actress　now　entered　was　that　of　the　final

catastrophe；　wherein　all　her　remarkable　powers　of　voice　and　art

were　pre…eminently　called　forth。　　The　house　hung　on　every　word

with　breathless　worship；　but　the　eyes　of　Viola　sought　only　those

of　one　calm　and　unmoved　spectator；　she　exerted　herself　as　if

inspired。　　Zanoni　listened；　and　observed　her　with　an　attentive

gaze；　but　no　approval　escaped　his　lips；　no　emotion　changed　the

expression　of　his　cold　and　half…disdainful　aspect。　　Viola；　who

was　in　the　character　of　one　who　loved；　but　without　return；　never

felt　so　acutely　the　part　she　played。　　Her　tears　were　truthful；

her　passion　that　of　nature：　　it　was　almost　too　terrible　to

behold。　　She　was　borne　from　the　stage　exhausted　and　insensible；

amidst　such　a　tempest　of　admiring　rapture　as　Continental

audiences　alone　can　raise。　　The　crowd　stood　up；　handkerchiefs

waved；　garlands　and　flowers　were　thrown　on　the　stage；men　wiped

their　eyes；　and　women　sobbed　aloud。



〃By　heavens！〃　said　a　Neapolitan　of　great　rank；　〃She　has　fired　me

beyond　endurance。　　To…nightthis　very　nightshe　shall　be　mine！

You　have　arranged　all；　Mascari？〃



〃All；　signor。　　And　the　young　Englishman？〃



〃The　presuming　barbarian！　　As　I　before　told　thee；　let　him　bleed

for　his　folly。　　I　will　have　no　rival。〃



〃But　an　Englishman！　　There　is　always　a　search　after　the　bodies　of

the　English。〃



〃Fool！　is　not　the　sea　deep　enough；　or　the　earth　secret　enough；　to

hide　one　dead　man？　　Our　ruffians　are　silent　as　the　grave　itself；

and　I！who　would　dare　to　suspect；　to　arraign　the　Prince　di　？

See　to　it；this　night。　　I　trust　him　to　you。　　Robbers　murder　him；

you　understand；the　country　swarms　with　them；　plunder　and　strip

him；　the　better　to　favour　such　report。　　Take　three　men；　the　rest

shall　be　my　escort。〃



Mascari　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　bowed　submissively。



The　streets　of　Naples　were　not　then　so　safe　as　now；　and　carriages

were　both　less　expensive　and　more　necessary。　　The　vehicle　which

was　regularly　engaged　by　the　young　actress　was　not　to　be　found。

Gionetta；　too　aware　of　the　beauty　of　her　mistress　and　the　number

of　her　admirers　to　contemplate　without　alarm　the　idea　of　their

return　on　foot；　communicated　her　distress　to　Glyndon；　and　he

besought　Viola；　who　recovered　but　slowly；　to　accept　his　own

carriage。　　Perhaps　before　that　night　she　would　not　have　rejected

so　slight　a　service。　　Now；　for　some　reason　or　other；　she　refused。

Glyndon；　offended；　was　retiring　sullenly；　when　Gionetta　stopped

him。　　〃Stay；　signor；〃　said　she；　coaxingly：　　〃the　dear　signora　is

not　well；do　not　be　angry　with　her；　I　will　make　her　accept　your

offer。〃



Glyndon　stayed；　and　after　a　few　moments　spent　in　expostulation　on

the　part　of　Gionetta；　and　resistance　on　that　of　Viola；　the　offer

was　accepted。　　Gionetta　and　her　charge　entered　the　carriage；　and

Glyndon　was　left　at　the　door　of　the　theatre　to　return　home　on

foot。　　The　mysterious　warning　of　Zanoni　then　suddenly　occurred　to

him；　he　had　forgotten　it　in　the　interest　of　his　lover's　quarrel

with　Viola。　　He　thought　it　now　advisable　to　guard　against　danger

foretold　by　lips　so　mysterious。　　He　looked　round　for　some　one　he

knew：　　the　theatre　was　disgorging　its　crowds；　they　hustled；　and

jostled；　and　pressed　upon　him；　but　he　recognised　no　familiar

countenance。　　While　pausing　irresolute；　he　heard　Mervale's　voice

calling　on　him；　and；　to　his　great　relief；　discovered　his　friend

making　his　way　through　the　throng。



〃I　have　secured　you；〃　said　he；　〃a　place　in　the　Count　Cetoxa's

carriage。　　Come　along；　he　is　waiting　for　us。〃



〃How　kind　in　you！　ho